MotherVerse Magazine: A Journal of Contemporary Motherhood

"MotherVerse is a cross-cultural look at how universal parenting really is. The details, the economics, the health care may all be different, but the act of mothering and loving and bleeding and growing all mark what it's like to be a woman and to be a mother. The stories, poetry and essays are very well written and highly engaging for mothers, aunts and moms to be. Recommended." Stephanie Holmes, Xerography Debt #19

From Issue #8 Fiction --Famus Peepul by Debbie Ann Ice

"Ellen and her boy, Larson, were on the second floor of The Monsters restaurant, searching for the fortuneteller. Larson had decided her signature was a necessary addition to his autograph book. He hadn't asked for her autograph while she was at their table because he always had to think about such things, ponder the person's qualifications, satisfy himself with the likelihood of the candidate's future fame. He didn't want a book scribbled up with just any old names, only people who would go on to become something significant. Years from now he would open his book with a friend, point to a name and say he knew this person back before all the glamour and glitz, back when they were simply a special education teacher, a speech therapist, a school aide, a psychologist, and now, a fortuneteller. So far, all twenty-four potentially famous people in his book were female, all tender-hearted, all attentive. All pretty.
The fortuneteller had done her act at their table downstairs right after the vampire had come and gone. The vampire had been OK, although a bit melodramatic and too chatty. The fortuneteller had breasts that puffed out of her black corset, the swells evident under her white eyelet peasant blouse. She wore oversized black rectangular glasses that tried unsuccessfully to hide her sharp features-oval green eyes, high cheeks that became pink balls when she smiled-- and when she leaned into Larson, she said in a lilting, heavily accented voice, "You a big boy. Do you play on Yankees team?" He said he was a Hurricane. "

MotherVerse Magazine features smart and engaging writing from mothers across the globe. Subscribe Now Visit our Blog which features a myriad of great mama-writers, guest bloggers, reader submissions and updates. Check it out! MotherVerse wins a Wahmmy Award! Advertisement	Current Issue, #8 For Mother's Day It is not too late to give the gift of MotherVerse. Order one of our gift certificates anytime and you will be presented immediately with a gift notice to email or print out and put in a card. Talk about the perfect last minute gift for moms! Cover Art by Lahib Jaddo "MotherVerse is a cross-cultural look at how universal parenting really is. The details, the economics, the health care may all be different, but the act of mothering and loving and bleeding and growing all mark what it's like to be a woman and to be a mother. The stories, poetry and essays are very well written and highly engaging for mothers, aunts and moms to be. Recommended." Stephanie Holmes, Xerography Debt #19 From Issue #8 Fiction --Famus Peepul by Debbie Ann Ice "Ellen and her boy, Larson, were on the second floor of The Monsters restaurant, searching for the fortuneteller. Larson had decided her signature was a necessary addition to his autograph book. He hadn't asked for her autograph while she was at their table because he always had to think about such things, ponder the person's qualifications, satisfy himself with the likelihood of the candidate's future fame. He didn't want a book scribbled up with just any old names, only people who would go on to become something significant. Years from now he would open his book with a friend, point to a name and say he knew this person back before all the glamour and glitz, back when they were simply a special education teacher, a speech therapist, a school aide, a psychologist, and now, a fortuneteller. So far, all twenty-four potentially famous people in his book were female, all tender-hearted, all attentive. All pretty. The fortuneteller had done her act at their table downstairs right after the vampire had come and gone. The vampire had been OK, although a bit melodramatic and too chatty. The fortuneteller had breasts that puffed out of her black corset, the swells evident under her white eyelet peasant blouse. She wore oversized black rectangular glasses that tried unsuccessfully to hide her sharp features-oval green eyes, high cheeks that became pink balls when she smiled-- and when she leaned into Larson, she said in a lilting, heavily accented voice, "You a big boy. Do you play on Yankees team?" He said he was a Hurricane. "	Read Excerpts from the Current Issue Here. Special Mother's Day Feature: Women's Group MADRE shares the stories of mothers from Iraq, Sudan, and Colombia who are fighting for better futures for their children. In Sudan, Fatima Ahmed heads an organization that supports women farmers displaced by armed conflict in Darfur. In Iraq, Yanar Mohammed brings together Sunni and Shiite youth through art to overcome religious divides. In Colombia, women respond to the needs of displaced families through human rights training and other services. These women, despite the hardships they face, understand that being a mother is about more than raising your own kids: motherhood is about making a more peaceful world for all children. Creative Essays Mourning My Belly by Melissa Stanton - stomach and self after a twin birth Flight of an Angel by Sevgi Zubeyde Gurbuz - one woman comes to terms with her hospitalized mother Empire State by Stephanie Susnjara - the long journey to a new lease on life The Curse of the White Butt Tag by Leesa Gehman - OH! the surprises that may come Nurturing the Inner Life by Helene McGlauflin - multitasking? what's next? My Mother's Daughter by Wendy Nakanishi - shedding new light on the past, and mom Madonna and Child in Due by Teresa Stores - a two mom family and a trip to Italy The Spitting Image by Johanna Wald - a daughter's connection to the family's past Plus Rex Box by Carter-Ann Mahdavi, Picasso's Guitar by Liz Mierzejewski, Up the Hill by Kathryn Petruccelli and The Visit by R.L. Aseret. ...and more Fiction & Poetry Fiction Famus Peepul by Debbie Ann Ice Poetry Homebirth by Meredith Grigar Temporary Hospital El Salvador 1983 and Little Man by Lilan Sarlos Poetry from Nigeria from Martins Iyoboyi View of Mt. Fuji by Annie Donwerth Chikamats Living Carpet by Richard Schiffman Veil by Beth Taylor-Schott For Nana by Helene McGlauflin ...and more Reviews & Extras Building Community One Post at a Time: Swedish-American mom BethAnne Yoxsimer Paulsrud talks with Charlotte Robbins, the founder of the online community Mums in Sweden. Great Resources Included Off The Shelf Reviews- -The Last Child in the Woods: review by Lilian Sarlos -The Second Nine Months: interview with the author by Kris Underwood -The Stones and Shapeshifting: a review of Celia Lisset Alvarez's poetry -A Conversation with Suzanne Kamata, author of Losing Kei: review by Michele Corkery plus Motherwire news, comics by Hathor the Cow Goddess, art and photography from across the globe and much more. MotherVerse's new semiannual issues feature more than 120 pages of fascinating writing on contemporary motherhood.
Visit the RMH Breastfeeding Policy Update Page.	What is MotherVerse? MotherVerse is a literary magazine that features personal creative essays, short fiction, poetry, reviews, humor and more; for and by mothers. We publish writing that explores contemporary motherhood through personal experience in an intelligent and enjoyable manner. In each issue, MotherVerse brings you pieces that connect you to a growing community of global mothers. Whether you have just a few minutes of free time, or are looking for something to pour over for hours, we know you'll find MotherVerse to be just the right fit. Join Us MotherVerse was the Broken Pencil zine of the month! "[MotherVerse] is packed with good stuff, and it's a substantial read, not a five- minute whip-through...Sometimes moms just really kick ass!" Heze Douglas, Broken Pencil	The MotherVerse Blog Visit our blog, Mothering Out Loud, featuring a wonderfully diverse selection of fascinating mama bloggers. special guests, reader submissions and MotherVerse content and updates. Check it out now...subscribe to the feed...submit...leave a comment! Support Mother-Writing If you like the idea of Mother-Writers in print consider supporting MotherVerse with a subscription or submission. Let the world know motherhood in print matters! Please also spread the word to your friends, family and community. Add a link in your email sig, post about MotherVerse on your boards, site, or blog, or buy gifts for moms or your local library. Thanks for keeping mother-writing alive! Image by Stasi Albert, California